Tales From a Galaxy Far, Far Away, Vol. 1: Aliens

So this is technically a collection of YOUNG READER level short stories. However, considering this book cost me $8 (for the hardcover too!) and is compiling 6 of the 27 Disney canon short stories I decided to give it a go. They're all short, fun, quick reads.

High Noon On Jakku: 3This story was a cool western like police story with a samurai looking constable and his two cousins as his (apparent) only deputies. The desert of Jakku, a robbery, the deserted town involved, and the mental calculation of how quick of a blaster-draw Zuvio could get off all lent to the western, cowboy-esque feel. A Recipe For Death: 4

This story was silly, fun, and even horrid?
It takes place in Moz's castle and is both a funny cook-off and a murder mystery slapped into one. It's also a pretty in-depth look at cooking in the galaxy far, far away—which is such a strange, minuscule thing to pursue. What could be better?

All Creatures Great and Small: 4This story is probably the strangest and silliest thing I've read from Disney canon? An old Nu-Cosian is a walking-talking zoo and he carries them all on his back. When he visits on Jakku the old and young alike flock to him for stories. The creatures love him and can understand him and they have the ability to get him out of an old and very familiar situation... The Face of Evil: 5

This story is a SW universe retelling of Frankenstein. However, retold at its finest. I genuinely wish these spin-off movies would focus on different things like this while still being “in-universe.” Imagine Dr. Frankenstein but as two minion like puff balls. Portrayed like the evil scientist style from films. There's even an Igor like assistant, a castle, a monster, and a lightning storm.
The only downsides for me are that it was a young reader, because this could so easily have been a full on horror, and the fact that now that we've seen TFA, we know this could never have happened in Moz's castle.

True Love: 3This story feels kind of like a SW universe version of Her mashed with traits of Ex Machina and unlined with robbery and other hijinks. An AI is programmed to get information and trick someone who I believe is the ugliest creature to make it into a SW story/movie, Unkar Plutt (But also, F YEAH for Simon Pegg). He's supposed to be disarmed by a female fawning over him in a SW makeshift dating site Turing test. Plus some double crossing... some double-double crossing??The Crimson Corsair And The Lost Treasure Of Count Dooku: 5

First of all... what a sick name for a short story I mean really
This story was a great attempt at giving a SW story a real world pirate feel. A Corsair, captains, first mates, barges and skimmers. A sea (of sand?), storms, and monsters too. Rigged barges and boarding parties using hand-weapons for close combat? These are all things I like to see and read.
Not to mention ties to the Clone Wars and Count Dooku? Need I say more?
Maybe even a few other familiar references too... high-FIVES all around amiright?